The development of CAWFE focused on coupling the Clark-Hall weather model with a detailed wildfire behavior model. The atmospheric component simulates winds and weather patterns at scales relevant to wildfire behavior, while the fire module simulates surface and crown fires, accounting for factors such as fuel properties, terrain, and the heat released by the fire. This heat release, in turn, affects local atmospheric conditions, creating feedback loops that influence the spread and intensity of the fire.

The fire module employs a combination of empirical, semi-empirical, and physical models to represent processes like the rate of spread, post-frontal heat release, and smoke production. The model also uses a tracer method to define and track the fireline at subgrid scales, allowing for detailed simulation of fire spread and its impacts on the atmosphere. This approach enables CAWFE to provide insights into both fire behavior and its broader environmental impacts.